Chemists Salary
Chemists in Akron, OH make a median of $78,990 a year, or about $37.98 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.37), which stretches that salary to about $84,599 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,268/month, or 24.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K get you in Akron?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Akron’s Regional Price Parity (93.37). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About chemists
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What this looks like in Akron
Pay for chemists in Akron runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $91K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,268/month, 24.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.37 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Akron can be a reasonable trade-off for chemistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for chemists in metros near Akron, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $94K | $99K |
| Cincinnati | $96K | $101K |
| Cleveland | $82K | $87K |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $105K | $113K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Akron, OH
Entry-level chemists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.
Chemists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Chemists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $150K | +64% | 280 |
| Maryland | $141K | +54% | 2,480 |
| Delaware | $130K | +42% | 1,200 |
| New Mexico | $127K | +39% | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $125K | +37% | 3,430 |
| Alaska | $106K | +16% | 60 |
| Oregon | $105K | +15% | 730 |
| Louisiana | $104K | +14% | 740 |
| Wyoming | $102K | +12% | 80 |
| Colorado | $102K | +12% | 1,790 |
| Rhode Island | $102K | +11% | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $100K | +10% | 300 |
| Texas | $100K | +9% | 5,130 |
| Minnesota | $99K | +9% | 1,680 |
| Connecticut | $98K | +8% | 1,170 |
| California | $98K | +7% | 9,820 |
| Alabama | $98K | +7% | 700 |
| Michigan | $97K | +7% | 3,490 |
| Washington | $97K | +7% | 2,280 |
| North Dakota | $97K | +7% | 160 |
| Virginia | $97K | +6% | 1,640 |
| Georgia | $93K | +2% | 1,260 |
| New York | $91K | -1% | 4,230 |
| Tennessee | $88K | -4% | 960 |
| Vermont | $86K | -6% | 80 |
| Iowa | $86K | -6% | 570 |
| West Virginia | $86K | -6% | 180 |
| Ohio | $85K | -7% | 4,010 |
| Illinois | $85K | -7% | 3,040 |
| New Jersey | $84K | -7% | 5,280 |
| Hawaii | $84K | -8% | 140 |
| Kentucky | $84K | -8% | 530 |
| Kansas | $83K | -9% | 690 |
| Missouri | $83K | -9% | 1,640 |
| Florida | $83K | -9% | 1,490 |
| North Carolina | $83K | -9% | 4,530 |
| Arizona | $82K | -10% | 870 |
| Nevada | $81K | -11% | 280 |
| Utah | $81K | -11% | 910 |
| Mississippi | $80K | -12% | 200 |
| South Carolina | $80K | -13% | 770 |
| Indiana | $79K | -14% | 2,480 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -14% | 1,920 |
| Idaho | $78K | -15% | 320 |
| Pennsylvania | $77K | -16% | 6,800 |
| Arkansas | $76K | -17% | 380 |
| Oklahoma | $75K | -18% | 630 |
| Nebraska | $75K | -18% | 350 |
| South Dakota | $67K | -26% | 170 |
| Maine | $64K | -29% | 140 |
| Montana | $62K | -32% | 300 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track chemists salary changes
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Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a chemist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Akron?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 24.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,268/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemists in Akron?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemists typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,011/month. At HUD’s $1,268/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemist a high-paying job in Akron?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $79K here vs. $91K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Akron compare to the national average for chemists?
Akron pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $91K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.37), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — below the national median.
How much do chemists make in Akron, OH?
The median is $78,990 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,190, and experienced chemists can clear $128,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Akron?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,206/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,268/month, which eats 24.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemists salary go in Akron?
Akron has a Regional Price Parity of 93.37 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median chemists salary is worth about $84,599 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.